No comments

NEW LDV T60 PICKUP

  By

The ongoing push by Chinese makers to sell vehicles in Australia has taken a major step forward with the LDV Ute gaining the full five-star safety rating from ANCAP at its first test. Other commercial vehicles from China have either failed to reach five stars, or have only done so after failing at their first attempts and then being modified. LDV Ute is the official name of the vehicle, though it really falls more into the pickup truck class as it’s a tough vehicle aimed at the harsh commercial market…. Read more

No comments

2018 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS STRIKING LOOKS

  By ,

It would be unkind to call the previous Hyundai Sonata an ugly duckling, but a major facelift really has given it a striking appearance. Indeed, many seeing it for the first time would think it’s an all-new car. The front end is bang up to date, with a huge grille, sleek headlights, large DRL (Daytime Running LIght) housings giving a look that’s more coupe-like than family car. The tail has also received a sportier treatment, with slimmer lights and a bold shape to the diffuser. Though the Sonata’s sides remain… Read more

No comments

VOISIN V12

  By
1935 Voisin V12

Gabriel Voisin gained his engineering experience in the infant aviation industry and was actually running an aeroplane factory in Paris before the Wright brothers’ planes were in production, producing a number of aircraft during World War I. He later switched to car manufacture and one of his best products was the V12 Simoun. The Simoun was powered by a V12 sleeve-valve 4860cc engine which had many unique features. One interesting one was the electromagnetically engaged overdrive on all three speeds. Voisin claimed that his V12 engine could rotate at a… Read more

No comments

WILL OUR COMMODORE BE JUDGED “WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR”?

  By , ,
Opel Insignia

Australian engineers working on the next-generation Commodore may have played a major part in having the Opel Insignia listed as a finalist for the 2018 World Car of the Year awards. Opel Insignia has had many positive reviews in Europe since its introduction a few months ago – and that’s with just the four-cylinder turbocharged engine. We feel sure they will love the performance of the V6 engine if they get to sample it. That powerplant wouldn’t have been engineered into the car but for pressure from Holden. The World… Read more

No comments

CITROEN DS4 2012 – 2016

  By ,
2012 Citroen DS4

It’s a lovely trait of the very French Citroen marque that it loves to be a long way ahead of the pack when it comes to styling. The DS4 is an excellent example. At a time when SUVs were generally squared off a the back, the DS4 was sloped and smooth. Then again is this an SUV? Because Citroen prefers it to call a five-door coupe, and to clever design makes it look like a three-door. Anyhow, many other makers have taken the style route at the rear of their… Read more

No comments

2018 NISSAN X-TRAIL REVIEW

  By ,

Nissan has given its midsize X-Trail SUV a solid makeover in appearance both inside and out, as well as a major performance boost, added technology and improved overall refinement. The Nissan X-Trail is offered with five or seven-seat versions, though the seven-seater is only available if you chose the 2WD model with the 2.5-litre petrol engine. Our test Nissan for the past week was a five-seat diesel X-Trail Ti. STYLING Three new paint colours: Marine Blue, Copper Blaze and Ruby Red lift it away from the various shades of silver… Read more

No comments

2017 MITSUBISHI PAJERO SPORT GLS REVIEW

  By ,

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is now offering more at the same price. Seven seats in the GLS and Exceed for the cost of five seats. Combined with the rugged SUV’s inclusions list, fuel economy and all-round capability, this is one challenge that is difficult to ignore. We were in the Pajero Sport GLS for a week during which the rain gods were especially generous to Queensland. The GLS’s quite confidence and assuredness under foot was a comfort in dangerous driving conditions. STYLING The Pajero Sport hides its ute roots rather… Read more

No comments

ALL-NEW BMW X3

  By ,

Fourteen years ago BMW was ahead of its time when it launched the X3 SUV into the prestige car market. Seven years later it introduced the second generation. Now a further seven years on the gen-three X3 from BMW has arrived in Australia. Four years ago Australian Calvin Luk, already one of BMW’s best regarded stylists took his seat at computer screen to do come up his thoughts on the all-new X3. Yesterday he sat at his screen again and fascinated we Australian motoring journos with quickly drawn strokes to… Read more

No comments

NEW RENAULT SEDAN FORSAKES BLOWTORCH FOR FIRESIDE COMFORT

  By ,

Renault has created a modern dynasty of hot hatches on the back of a formidable Formula One motor racing record: think Megane and Clio. Now the French automotive giant has added to the Megane family Down Under with a wagon and sedan. In comparison to the performance-based Megane hatch, with which it was born and bred, the new sedan is a stylish, premium packaged, practical vehicle, which is, once the steepish initial outlay is overcome, economical to live with. It comes to Australia in two models – Zen and Intens… Read more

No comments

2017 AUDI S5 COUPE REVIEW

  By ,

New generation A5 and S5 two-door coupes were launched in March this year and have been a hit right from the start, for two reasons: Number one is undoubtedly styling; Audi is running hot in this vital sales area these days and the S5 is right up with the best. Number two is a more mundane; A5 and S5 coupe prices have been cut by as much as $15,000 when compared feature-to-feature with the superseded models. Our test coupe for the past week was the Audi S5 coupe. STYLING The… Read more